Question

Characterizing an “unhappy,” deteriorating tidal marsh is more complex because marshes can fall apart in many different ways. One finding contradicted a previous assumption: namely, that gains in marsh elevation and sediment indicate greater resilience. The authors say marshes with these characteristics performed inconsistently and often signaled the muddy mess that degrading marshes can become, not marsh health.

Answer 1

Characterizing an "unhappy," deteriorating tidal marsh is complex because marshes can degrade in many different ways. A recent study found that gains in marsh elevation and sediment do not necessarily indicate greater resilience, as previously thought. Marshes with these characteristics often performed inconsistently and signaled the muddy mess that degrading marshes can become, rather than marsh health. Therefore, it is important to use multiple indicators to evaluate the health of tidal marshes, such as vegetation and soil quality, in order to better understand how they are changing over time.

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